Pig piling device

ABSTRACT

A pig-piling device comprising a first conveyor delivering pigs to a manipulator and onto an intermediate support. An accumulating table is located after the intermediate support in the direction of regular operation and is mounted with provision for vertical movement for connecting the pig it carries with the pig located on the intermediate support. A second conveyor is installed below the accumulating table which shifts the interlocked pigs from the intermediate support onto the accumulating table. The rows of pigs are carried and formed into a pile by a grip mounted on a driven trolley.

United States Patent [191 Turchaninov et al.

PIG PlLlNG DEVICE Inventors: Vasily Vasilievich Turchaninov,

ulitsa 3 Sovetskaya, 69, kv. 58; Jury Petrovich Shelkovnikov, ulitsa Dekabrskikh Sobyty, 65, kv. 30; Gennady Maximovich Machkov, ulitsa Studencheskaya, l6, kv. l8; Oleg Alexandrovich Korolev, ulitsa 5 Armia, 46, kv. l 1, all of Irkutsk, U.S.S.R.

Filed: May 4, 1973 Appl. No.: 357,277

Foreign Application Priority Data May 5, 1972 U.S.S.R 1781748 US. Cl 214/6.5, 198/222, 214/1 Q,

214/6 DK, 214/6 N, 2l4/lO.5 SI Int. Cl B65g 57/00 Field of Search 214/6 A, 6.5, 6 N, 6 P,

214/6 DK, 1 Q; 198/222 11] 3,828,944 [451 Aug. 13, 1974 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,267,531 8/1966 Buttkereit ct al 2l4/6.5

Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-Ross Weaver Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stern [5 7 ABSTRACT A pig-piling device comprising a first conveyor delivering pigs to a manipulator and onto an intermediate support. An accumulating table is located after the intermediate support in the direction of regular operation and is mounted with provision for vertical movement for connecting the pig it carries with the pig located on the intermediate support. A second conveyor is installed below the accumulating table which shifts the interlocked pigs from the intermediate support onto the accumulating table. The rows of pigs are carried and formed into a pile by a grip mounted on a driven trolley.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures il &

PATENTED IIR 3.828.944

sum 5 BF 5 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices for piling metal pigs (ingots). Such pigs (e.g. aluminium) are cast in foundry departments of metallurgical plants. It is desirable that the pigs should be laid snugly in a pile and that the pile should be sufficiently firm for transportation. With this purpose in view the pigs are cast in a variety of configurations and provided on the sides with projections and hollows which, interacting with each other, ensure interlocking of the turned and non-turned pigs placed in a horizontal row.

Additionally, pigs are provided with projections on their bases to prevent their relative displacement in the transverse and longitudinal directions both in the horizontal and vertical rows.

The diversity of pig configurations has brought about a large number of various methods and devices for the mechanized piling of pigs.

The designs of the pig-piling devices depend on the form of the pig interlocking elements in one row and in the adjacent rows (in height) of a pile. Of great importance here is the method of piling the adjacent pigs in one row (i.e. with or without turning through 180 around the longitudinal axis) and the direction of placing the rows in a pile relative to one another (i.e. turned horizontally through 90 and 180, or not turned at all).

Known pig pilers are intended, as a rule, for handling pigs without the side interlocking elements so that each subsequent row has to be turned horizontally through 90 and the pile has to be tied up crosswise with a sturdy steel band. For example, the device covered by Authors Certificate No. 116199, Cl.8le,129, USSR is intended for piling pigs which have no side interlocking elements. This device incorporates a receiving appliance for pigs, a pig piler, and a conveyor delivering pigs to the piler, the receiving appliance being made in the form of an oscillating platform with a counterweight for shifting the pigs onto the conveyor while the piler proper has the form of a crossbar with a pig grip the crossbar being moved from the conveyor to the pile. The device is provided with a pile-forming trolley. The grip is mounted on the crossbar turned through 90 horizontally.

The need for large-scale transportation of pig metal created a demand for elaborating new designs of pigs which would allow making firm and compact piles.

Such a new pig has been devised (US Application No. 269186).

The pig of the new design has rectangular bases, a trapezoidal cross section and inclined side surfaces which have at least one interlocking element in the form of a cog and an adjacent hollow located in a transverse direction relative to the pig, both the cog and the hollow intended to engage the similar cogs and hollows in the adjacent overturned pigs and to keep them against moving laterally and transversely relative to one another.

However, known devices for mechanized piling of pigs have proved inadequate for the pigs of the new design. They fail to ensure relative movement of adjacent pigs (the one turned through 180 and the one which is not turned so that its pouring side faces upward) for engaging the interlocking elements, i.e. the cog and hollow of one pig with the similar cog and hollow of the other pig, both the cog and hollow being made correspondingly on the side surfaces of the pigs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the invention is to provide a pigpiling device which ensures engagement of the interlocking elements on the inclined side surfaces of the pigs such engagement calling for the relative vertical movement of the adjacent pigs in a horizontal row.

Another important object of the invention is to pro vide a pig-piling device with an appliance which ensures that the pigs are placed at a preset distance from one another which is required for engaging their interlocking elements.

Still another, no less important object of the invention is to provide a device with an arrester which ensures movement through a preset distance of both the pigs located in a horizontal row with the pouring side up and of the pigs located in a horizontal row wherein every other pig is turned with the pouring side down.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a device with pushers which ensures movement through a preset distance of both the pigs whose pouring side faces up and of those whose pouring side is turned down which is required for forming rows wherein the pouring side of every other pig faces down.

These and other objects have been accomplished by providing a device for piling metal pigs comprising a first conveyor mounted on the supporting frame for delivering pigs into a manipulator and a second conveyor likewise mounted on the supporting frame after the first conveyor (in the direction of regular operation) for forming a row of pigs, a grip mounted on a driven trolley for picking up the pigs formed in a row and transporting them to the pile-forming table wherein, according to the invention, there is an intermediate support for receiving pigs from the manipulator, and an accumulating table, both being installed above the second conveyor. The accumulating table has provision for vertical movement and is provided with a drive which shifts it to three positions required for engaging the interlocking elements of the pig located on the support with the interlocking elements of the pig located on the accumulating table and turned through around its longitudinal axis in relation to the first pig and wherein the first pig and wherein the first and second conveyors which consist of carriages which move over guides, are provided with reciprocating drives and have coaxial articulated spring-loaded twin pushers on their side surfaces, the guides of the carriage of the first conveyor being installed between and below the pig skids secured on the supporting frame while the guides of the carriage of the second conveyor are secured on the supporting frame below the level of the intermediate support and accumulating table, and the manipulator is made in the form of a drum provided with a drive for turning it around its horizontal axis, the drum having a through opening which receives the carriage of the first conveyor with the pig, this carriage moving in as far as the intermediate support.

Such an arrangement provides for mechanized forming of rows of metal pigs whose inclined side surfaces have interlocking elements which require for their engagement that every other pig should be turned through 180 about its longitudinal axis and that one pig should be able to move vertically relative to the adjacent pig which produces firm and compact piles.

It is preferable that the drive of the accumulating table be made in the form of a cylinder whose movable element carries a three-step guide templet contacting a roller which is secured on the front section (in the direction of regular operation) of the accumulating table, and that the opposite section of this table be articulated to the supporting frame.

This provides for accurate shifting of the accumulating table to the three positions which are required for the engagement of the interlocking elements of the pigs, i.e. the upper, lower and middle positions, the last being located level with the intermediate support.

In the upper position of the accumulating table the pig which it carries with the pouring side up is about to be locked with the pig located on the intermediate support, pouring side down.

In the lower position of the accumulating table the pig which it carries with the pouring side down is about to be locked with the pig located on the intermediate support, pouring side up.

In the middle position of the accumulating table the pig which it carries is interlocked with the pig located on the intermediate support.

It is desirable that the rod of the drive cylinder of the second conveyor be provided with an arrester in the form of a stop fork with an electromagnetic drive which is secured on the supporting frame and which withdraws the stop fork from the rod in the process of forming the lower row of the pile consisting of the pigs whose pouring side is directed upwards, and puts the arrester back on the rod in the process of forming the subsequent rows of the pile wherein every other pig is directed with its pouring side down.

Such an arrester of the carriage drive of the second conveyor allows this conveyor to form both the lower row of the pile, consisting of the pigs whose pouring sides face up, and of all the subsequent rows wherein every other pig is turned with its pouring side down.

It is practicable that the length of the portion of the stop fork limiting the travel of the drive of the carriage of the second conveyor be equal to the difference between the centre distance of two adjacent pigs in a row whose pouring sides face up and the centre distance of two adjacent pigs in a row, one of these two pigs being turned with their pouring side down.

Such a design of the stop fork ensures accurate shifting of the pigs to a preset distance while forming a row in which every other pig is turned with its pouring side down.

It is practicable that each pusher in the first pair of pushers (in the direction of regular operation) on the carriage of the second conveyor be provided with two projections whose shape and dimensions ensure interaction of one of them with the inclined side surface of the pig whose pouring side is turned up while the other one interacts with the inclined side surface of the pig whose pouring side is turned down, and the same distance between the axis of pusher fastening and the geometrical axes of the pigs, both turned and not turned with their pouring sides down.

The pushers provided with such projections are capable of shifting both turned and non-turned pigs over the same distance without changing the travel of the carriage of the second conveyor while forming the second and subsequent rows of the pile wherein every other pig is directed with its pouring side down.

It is desirable that the manipulator drum should have a through opening with skids on its lower and upper sides, the skids being located level with the skids of the first conveyor for carrying the pig and to allow the passage of the carriage of the first conveyor between them, and that there should be arc-shaped baffles located under the drum for keeping the pigs from falling out of the rotating drum, and it is practicable that the drum should be provided with a reversible drive for turning the drum through around the longitudinal axis, the drive being comprised of a cylinder interacting with a rack and a gear wheel.

Such a design of the manipulator drum and its through opening ensures prompt and accurate turning of the pigs through 180 about the longitudinal axis and their further shifting onto the intermediate support by the carriage of the first conveyor, reduces the size of the manipulator and simplifies its design.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the arm-type grip, view along arrow A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a functional diagram of the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the first pair of pushers (in the direction of regular operation) on the carriage of the second conveyor;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line V V in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows the manipulator drum, view along arrow B in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of forming five-pig rows, beginning with the pig whose pouring side faces up;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of forming five-pig rows, beginning with the pig whose pouring side faces down;

FIG. 9 shows a pile of pigs formed by the device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The device comprises a supporting frame 1 (FIG. 1) on which are mounted (in the direction of regular operation) a first conveyor 2, a manipulator 3, an intermediate support 4, an accumulating table 5, a second conveyor 6, a table 7 and an arm-type grip 8.

The first conveyor 2 delivers pigs 9 one by one into the manipulator 3 and pushes them out of said manipulator onto the intermediate support 4. The conveyor 2 consists of skids 10 secured on the supporting frame 1 for receiving and carrying pigs 9, and of a carriage 12 (FIG. 5) installed between and below the skids 10 in guides 11 (FIG. 3).

The carriage 12 is provided with coaxial springloaded twin pushers 13, 14 and 15 (FIG. 3) articulated to its side surfaces and has a reciprocating drive 16 for reciprocating it.

The manipulator 3 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 6) is a drum 17 with a through opening 18 whose dimensions are sufficient to receive and let through the carriage 12 with the pig 9. Fastened to the upper and lower sides of the opening 18 are skids 19 which serve as a continuation of the skids of the first conveyor 2, and are located at the same height with them, for carrying the pig 9 and allowing the passage between them of the carriage 12 with pushers 15. Arc-shaped baffles 20 installed under the manipulator 3 on the supporting frame 1 keep the pig 9 from falling out of the rotating drum 17. The manipulator 3 comprises a drive for rotating the drum 17, which consists of a cylinder 21 (FIG. 3) and a rack 22 interacting with a gear wheel 23, and ensuring reversible turning of the drum 17 through 180 and its positive fixing in the positions corresponding to the horizontal position of the skids 19.

The intermediate supprt 4 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is provided for placing the pig 9 pushed out of the manipulator 3 and for its subsequent interlocking with the adjacent pig in the row. The intermediate support '4 is secured on the supporting frame 1 after the manipulator 3 level with the skids 19 of the drum 17, serves as a continuation of these skids and is similar in shape.

The accumulating table 5 is designed to interlock two adjacent pigs 9 in a row, turned relative to each other through 180 and provided with interlocking elements on the inclined side surfaces, and to form the entire row of pigs prior to placing in a pile 24 (FIG. 9). The accumulating table is mounted on the supporting frame 1 (FIG. 1) with provision for moving vertically to three positions, viz., lower and higher than the intermediate support 4 and level with the latter. These movements can be executed either by moving the entire accumulating table 5 while retaining its horizontal position, or by swinging its side located at the intermediate support 4. In a preferred embodiment the accumulating table 5 is of the swinging type in the form of two skids 25 connected to each other and spaced at the same distance as the skids 10 of the first conveyor 2 The accumulating table 5 is provided with a drive in the form of a cylinder 26 secured to the supporting frame 1, the rod 27 of the cylinder being connected with a three-step guide templet 29 which is in contact with a roller 30 secured on the front section (in the direction of regular operation) of the accumulating table 5, the opposite section of which is articulated to the supporting frame 1.

The second conveyor 6 (FIGS. 1 and 3) installed on the supporting frame 1 under the intermediate support 4 and accumulating table 5 carries pigs 9 from the intermediate support 4 onto the accumulating table 5. The second conveyor 6 consists of a carriage 31 installed in guides 32 which are secured on the supporting frame 1. Articulated to the side surfaces of the carriage 31 are coaxial spring-loaded twin pushers 33 and 34. Each of the pushers 33 has two projections 35 and 36 (FIG. 4). During the progressive movement of the pigs 9 the lower projection 35 interacts with the inclined side surface of the pig 9 whose pouring side is up while the upper projection 36 interacts with the inclined sides surface of the pig whose pouring side is turned down. The shape and size of the projections 35 and 36 ensure the same distance (S) in the direction of pig movement between the geometrical axis of fastening of the pushers 33 and the longitudinal geometrical axis of the pig 9 when the pushers 33 shift both the turned and non-turned pigs. As a result, each successive pig 9 is accurately placed on the front section (in the direction of regular operation) of the accumulating table 5 (FIG. 3) before said pig gets interlocked with the pig located on the intermediate support 4 and turned relative to it through 180 around its longitudinal axis (7c,8c).

The carriage 31 (FIG. 3) of the second conveyor 6 is provided with a reciprocating drive secured on the supporting frame 1. The drive consists of a cylinder 37 with rod 38 and a stop fork 39 for changing the rod stroke, stop fork 39 being operated by an electromagnetic drive 40 mounted on the supporting frame 1. The stop fork 39 is installed on the rod 38. It may be made in the form of a bar or a plate and be installed directly in guides 32. The length of the section of the stop fork 39 which changes the stroke of the carriage is equal to the difference between the centre distance of two adjacent pigs whose pouring sides face upward and the centre distance of two adjacent pigs in a row, wherein the pouring side of one of the pigs is turned down. Changes in the stroke of the carriage 31 ensure the forming of the lower row of the pile 24 consisting exclusively of the pigs whose pouring side faces up and of all the subsequent rows wherein every other pig is turned with its pouring side down.

Located after the accumulating table (in the direction of regular operation) is a table 7 for forming a pile 24 and provided with a drive 41 for its vertical movement. Besides, mounted horizontally on the supporting frame 1 is a pusher 42 for shifting the formed pile 24 from the table 7 onto a roller bed 43. The device may be made without the pusher 42 and roller bed 43 and the formed piles 24 may be removed from the table 7 by a fork-lift truck.

Above the accumulating table 5 and the table 7 there is an arm-type grip 8 (FIGS. 1 and 2) installed on a trolley 44 (FIG. 3) which, in turn, is installed in guides 45 which are secured on the supporting frame 1. The grip 8 is provided with arms 46 articulated with a verticallymovable frame 47 mounted on the trolley 44. The arms 46 are articulated via intermediate rods 48 with a sleeve 49. The latter is fastened to the rod 50 of a cylinder 51 positioned vertically and secured to the trolley 44. The arms 46 have shoes 52 with projections 53 the vertical distance between which corresponds to the difference between the heights of the shoulders of the pigs in a row wherein every other pig is turned through 180.

The trolley 44 is provided with a cylinder 54 which is attached to the supporting frame 1 and can reciprocate over the guides 45.

The device functions as follows.

The pigs 9 (FIG. 1) whose pouring side faces up are fed one by one onto the first conveyor 2. The pig 9 that has been placed on the skids 10 in front of the pushers 13 (FIG. 3) switches on the reciprocating drive 16 of the carriage 12 which, moving forward, moves this first pig by the spring-loaded pushers 13 over the skids 10 to the position in front of the drum 17 of the manipulator 3; the pushers 15 together with the front part of the carriage 12 pass through the opening 18 of the drum 17 up to the intermediate support 4 and the pushers enter the opening 18. As the carriage 12 moves back, the pushers 14 are depressed by the weight of the pig 9, leaving this pig where it is whereas the part of the carriage 12 with the pushers 15 comes out of the opening 18 of the drum 17, releasing the manipulator 3. As soon as the carriage 12 returns to the initial position, the pushers 13, 14 and 15 come to the initial upper position, the pushers 14 stopping in front of the first pig while the pushers 13 are readied for receiving the next pig.

As the second pig enters the skids 10 in front of the pushers 13, the carriage 12 again moves forward, the pushers 14 shift the first pig onto the skids 19 of the drum 17 while the pushers 13 move the second pig over the skids 10 to a position in front of the drum 17. Then the carriage returns to the initial position, the pushers 15 take their initial position in front of the first pig located in the drum 17, the pushers 14 stop in front of the second pig while the pushers 13 are again ready to receive the next pig.

While forming the lower row of the pile 24 consisting of four pigs whose pouring sides face upward (this position corresponding to the position of the pigs entering the first conveyor), the pigs are not turned. Therefore, the drum 17 stays immovable after feeding into it the first, second, third and fourth pigs and after the carriage 12 with the pushers 15 comes out of the opening 18 of the drum 17.

When the third pig enters the skids 10 in front of the pushers 13, the pushers 15 of the carriage 12 move the non-turned first pig from the skids 19 of the drum 17 onto the intermediate support 4, the pushers 14 shift the second pig from the skids 10 onto the skids 19 of the drum l7 and the pushers 13 shift the third pig over the skids 10 to a position in front of the drum 17 after which the carriage returns to the initial position. At this instant the electromagnetic drive 40 withdraws the stop fork 39 from the rod 38 so as to ensure the rod stroke equalling to the width of the pouring side of the pig. Then the carriage 31 of the second conveyor 6 is moved forward by the drive cylinder 37 and its pushers 33 move the first pig from the intermediate support 4 on the front section (in the direction of regular operation) of the accumulating table 5 which at the time occupies the middle position, level with the intermediate support 4. This position will be occupied by the accumulating table 5 within the entire period of forming the lower row of the pile 24, consisting of four non-turned pigs, its removal from the accumulating table 5 and until the fifth pig comes in, which already is the first pig of the second row in the pile 24.

The carriages l2 and 31 of the first and second conveyors, respectively, work in synchronism. Therefore, at the moment when the first pig is moved from the intermediate support 4 onto the accumulating table 5 by the pushers 33 of the carriage 31, the pushers 15 of the carriage l2 shift the second pig from the manipulator 3 onto the intermediate support 4, transfer the third and fourth pigs to their next positions then the carriage 12 returns to the initial position and so does the carriage 31 so that the projections 35 of its pushers 33 engage the second pig located at the time on the intermediate support 4, while the first pushers 34 located side by side with the pushers 33 on the carriage 31 engage the first pig located on the accumulating table 5. In a further process of forming the lower row and its shifting over the skids 25 of the accumulating table 5 the pushers 34 will interact successively with each pig in the lower row until it is completed.

When the fourth non-turned pig is shifted onto the intermediate support 4 and the fifth pig enters the drum 17, the fifth pig being already the first pig of the second row which must be turned through 180 around its longitudinal axis, the pushers 33 of the carriage 31 move the fourth pig from the intermediate support 4 onto the accumulating table 5. At this time the electromagnetic drive moves the stop fork 39 on the rod 38 of the cylinder 37 while the cylinder 21 turns the drum 17 through 180 via the rack 22 and gear wheel 23, and turns the fifth pig contained in the drum 17.

After the fourth-non-turned pig has been shifted onto the accumulating table 5 and the carriage 31 has returned to its initial position, the arm-type grip 8 occupying its initial position above the accumulating table 5 with the arms 46 spread apart, comes down to the height sufficient for the projections of the shoes 52 on its arms 46 to come under the shoulders of the pigs in the lower row of the pile formed on the accumulating table 5. Then the rod 50 lifts the sleeve 49 and the rods 48 interconnected with it; the rods spread apart the upper ends of the arms 46 while their lower ends put the projections 53 under the shoulders of the pigs and thus clamp the formed row.

As the sleeve 49 continues moving upward, the frame 47 starts lifting with it, and the arms 46 connected with the frame also move upward, holding the clamped row of pigs. On completion of the lifting motion the trolley 44 is moved by the cylinder 54 over the guides to the position above the table 7 which at the time occupies its upper position. The formed row is lowered on the table 7 by the return stroke of the rod 50 of the cylinder 51, the sleeve 49 and frame 47 moving down simultaneously until the row of pigs touches the table 7. Then the lowering of the frame 47 is discontinued, the sleeve 49 continues to lower and its rods 48 spread apart the arms 46 which, in turn, disengage the projections 53 from the pig shoulders. In this position of the grip 8 and at this level the trolley 44 is moved by the cylinder 54 to the initial position above the accumulating table 5 and the table 7 lowers a distance equal to the height of one row.

After the grip 8 has lifted the lower row of pigs from the accumulating table 5 and the drum 17 has finished turning, the pushers 15 of the carriage 12 shift the turned fifth pig onto the intermediate support 4 while the pushers 33 of the carriage 31 move this pig from the intermediate support 4 onto the accumulating table 5 (FIG. 7 a, b) through a distance limited by the stop fork 39 (FIG. 3) which corresponds to the centre distance between two adjacent pigs in a row, one of these pigs being turned with its pouring side down (FIG. 7 c,d). Then the cylinder 26 moves the three-step guide templet 29 by its rod 27 over the guides 28 to a position in which the roller 30 goes down on its lower step, the accumulating table also going down by the height of this step. At this time the drum 17 of the manipulator 3 holds the sixth pig which is at the same time the second pig of the second row. This pig must not be turned so that the drum l7 stays immovable and during the next forward movement of the carriage 12 this sixth pig is shifted by the pushers 15 from the drum 17 onto the intermediate support 4 without turning. (FIG. Simultaneously, the seventh pig is delivered into the drum 17 by the pushers 14; this pig must be turned because every other pig of the second and subsequent rows is turned with its pouring side down. When the carriage 12 comes out of the drum 17,-the latter turns in the contrary direction through and occupies its initial position (the one it occupied before turning the fifth pig), and turns the seventh pig.

After the sixth non-turned pig enters the intermediate support 4, the three-step templet guide again moves to the middle position, the roller 30 elevates to the middle step and the accumulating table comes level with the intermediate support 4 (FIG. 7d) which allows the interlocking elements of the non-turned sixth pig to engage the fifth turned pig located on the accumulating table 5.

After the pigs have been interlocked, the pushers 33 of the carriage 31 move the sixth pig from the intermediate support 4 onto the accumulating table 5 while the fifth pig interlocked with the sixth one moves over the skids 25 of the accumulating table 5 (FIG. 7e) and the carriage 31 returns to the initial position. The threestep guide templet 29 is moved by the cylinder 26 to the position in which the roller 30 rises to its upper step and lifts the accumulating table 5 (FIG. 7f) to the upper position; the carriage 12 moves the seventh turned pig by its pushers 15 from the drum 17 onto the intermediate support 4, moves the eighth pig by its pushers 14 into the drum l7, shifts the ninth pig to a position in front of the drum l7 and returns to the initial position.

At this time the three-step guide templet 29 returns to the middle position, the roller 30 lowers to its middle step and the accumulating table 5 comes level with the intermediate support 4 and connects the seventh pig with the sixth pig (FIG. 7g). Then the process of forming the second row is continued in the similar manner (FIGS. 7 h,i,k,l,m,n,o).

After forming the second row of the pile 24, this row is lifted by the arm-type grip 8 from the accumulating table 5, carried to the table 7 and placed on the lower row of the pile 24 as shown in the drawings (FIGS. 1, 3 and 9).

The process of forming the third row (FIGS. 8a through 80) of the pile 24 is similar to that of the sec ond row differing from it only in that the forming of the second row begins from the non-turned pig whose pouring side is directed upward (FIG. 8a). However, the interacting sequence of all the mechanisms of the device is retained since each preceding row ends in a pig whose pouring side faces the direction conrary to that of the pig in the next row. This operating sequence of all the mechanisms of the device is retained until the entire pile 24 (FIG. 9) consisting of, say, 12 rows is completed.

When the pile 24 has been completely formed, it is moved by the pusher 42 from the table 7 onto the roller bed 43 and the table 7 retums to its initial upper position.

For switching over .to the formation of the lower row of the next pile, the device functions as follows.

After the fifth pig interlocked with the preceding pigs of the row has been shifted by the pushers 33 to the accumulating table 5, the stop fork 39 is withdrawn by the electromagnetic drive 40 from .the rod 38 of the cylinder 37, thus setting its stroke equal to the width of the pouring side of the pig; the accumulating table 5 remains in the middle .position, level with the intermediate support 4, Le. where it has previously been receiving the last pig of the preceding pile and the drum 17 of the manipulator 3 .stops in the position it occupied after over turning this last pig. These mechanisms will remain immovable :until the lower row is completed and the drum 17 of the manipulator 3 receives the fifth pig of the new pile. Subsequent functioning of the device is similar to that described above.

We claim:

1. A device for piling metal pigs comprising: a sup porting frame; a first conveyor means consisting of a carriage moving on guides, and mounted between skids for shifting metal pigs and provided on its sides with a first set of coaxial articulated spring-loaded twinned pig pushers; first drive means for reciprocating the carriage of said first conveyor means; manipulator means rotatably mounted on said supporting frame for turning around a horizontal axis and consisting of a drum having a through opening for receiving the carriage of said first conveyor means containing a pig; second drive means for turning the manipulator means around its horizontal axis, said second drive means being secured on said supporting frame; an intermediate support for receiving pigs having interlocking elements from said manipulator means and secured on said supporting frame, level with the skids of said first conveyor means; an accumulating table for accumulating pigs in rows and interlocked with their respective interlocking elements, said table being pivotally secured on said supporting frame for vertical movement to three positions required for the engagement of the interlocking elements of said pig located on said intermediate support with counterpart interlocking elements on the pig located on said accumulating table to form said rows; third drive means mounted on said supporting frame for moving said accumulating table vertically to said three positions; a second conveyor means consisting of a carriage which moves on guides secured on said supporting frame below the level of said intermediate support and said accumulating table, and being provided on its sides with a second set of coaxial articulated spring-loaded twinned pig pushers; fourth drive means for reciprocating the carriage of said second conveyor means; a pile-forming table located after said accumulating table in the direction of regular operation of the device; fifth drive means for causing vertical movement of said pile-forming table; an arm-type grip mounted on a driven trolley which is installed in the guides secured on said supporting frame above said accumulating and pile-forming tables, said grip repeatedly picking up the pigs formed in a row on said accumulating table, and carrying and placing them on said pile-forming table to form a pile of pigs.

2. A pig-piling device according to claim 1 wherein said third drive means of said accumulating table is made in the form of a cylinder having a movable element and secured to said supporting frame, the movable element of said cylinder carrying a three-step guide templet which contacts a roller means secured on the forward operating section of said accumulating table the rearward operating section of which is articulated to said supporting frame.

3. A pig-piling device according to claim 1 wherein said cylinder rod of the carriage drive of said second conveyor means has a stop fork with an electromagnetic drive mounted on said supporting frame, said drive withdrawing said stop fork from said rod for forming a lower row of the pile of pigs consisting of pigs whose pouring sides are directed upward and putting said stop fork on said rod for forming all the subsequent rows of the pile wherein every other pig is turned with the pouring side thereof facing downwards.

4. A pig-piling device according to claim 3 wherein the length of the section of said stop fork which limits the stroke of said carriage drive of said second conveyor means is equal to the difference between the center distance of two adjacent pigs in a row located with their pouring sides up and the center distance of two adjacent pigs in a row in which one of the adjacent pigs is turned with its pouring side facing downward.

5. A pig-piling device according to claim 1 wherein each pusher of a first pair of said second set of pushers taken in the direction of regular operation of the device, on the carriage of said second conveyor means has two projections whose shape and dimensions provide for the interaction of one of these projections with the inclined side surface of a pig whose pouring side faces upward while the other projection interacts with the inclined side surface of a pig whose pouring side faces downward, and ensures the same distance between the axis of fastening of said pushers and the geometrical axes of the pigs, both non-turned and turned with their pouring side facing downwards.

6. A pig-piling device according to claim 1 wherein the drum of said manipulator means has a through opening whose upper and lower sides are provided with skids located level with the skids of said first conveyor means for carrying a pig and allowing passage between them of the carriage of said first conveyor means, wherein arc-shaped baffles are located under said drum for keeping the pigs from falling therefrom under rotation thereof and wherein said drum is provided with a reversible drive for turning the drum through around a longitudinal axis, said drive comprising a cylinder interacting with a rack and a gear wheel. 

1. A device for piling metal pigs comprising: a supporting frame; a first conveyor means consisting of a carriage moving on guides, and mounted between skids for shifting metal pigs and provided on its sides with a first set of coaxial articulated spring-loaded twinned pig pushers; first drive means for reciprocating the carriage of said first conveyor means; manipulator means rotatably mounted on said supporting frame for turning around a horizontal axis and consisting of a drum having a through opening for receiving the carriage of said first conveyor means containing a pig; second drive means for turning the manipulator means around its horizontal axis, said second drive means being secured on said supporting frame; an intermediate support for receiving pigs having interlocking elements from said manipulator means and secured on said supporting frame, level with the skids of said first conveyor means; an accumulating table for accumulating pigs in rows and interlocked with their respective interlocking elements, said table being pivotally secured on said supporting frame for vertical movement to three positions required for the engagement of the interlocking elements of said pig located on said intermediate support with counterpart interlocking elements on the pig located on said accumulating table to form said rows; third drive means mounted on said supporting frame for moving said accumulating table vertically to said three positions; a second conveyor means consisting of a carriage which moves on guides secured on said supporting frame below the level of said intermediate support and said accumulating table, and being provided on its sides with a second set of coaxial articulated spring-loaded twinned pig pushers; fourth drive means for reciprocating the carriage of said second conveyor means; a pileforming table located after said accumulating table in the direction of regular operation of the device; fifth drive means for causing vertical movement of said pile-forming table; an armtype grip mounted on a driven trolley which is installed in the guides secured on said supporting frame above said accumulating and pile-forming tables, said grip repeatedly picking up the pigs formed in a row on said accumulating table, and carrying and placing them on said pile-forming table to form a pile of pigs.
 2. A pig-piling device according to claim 1 wherein said third drive means of said accumulating table is made in the form of a cylinder having a movable element and secured to said supporting frame, the movable element of said cylinder carrying a three-step guide templet which contacts a roller means secured on the forward operating section of said accumulating table the rearward operating section of which is articulated to said supporting frame.
 3. A pig-piling device according to claim 1 wherein said cylinder rod of the carriage drive of said second conveyor means has a stop fork with an electromagnetic drive mounted on said supporting frame, said drive withdrawing said stop fork from said rod for forming a lower row of the pile of pigs consisting of pigs whose pouring sides are directed upward and putting said stop fork on said rod for forming all the subsequent rows of the pile wherein every other pig is turned with the pouring side thereof facing downwards.
 4. A pig-piling device according to claim 3 wherein the length of the section of said stop fork which limits the stroke of said carriage drive of said second conveyor means is equal to the difference between the center distance of two adjacent pigs in a row located with their pouring sides up and the center distance of two adjacent pigs in a row in which one of the adjacent pigs is turned with its pouring side facing downward.
 5. A pig-piling device according to claim 1 wherein each pusher of a first pair of said second set of pushers taken in the direction of regular operation of the dEvice, on the carriage of said second conveyor means has two projections whose shape and dimensions provide for the interaction of one of these projections with the inclined side surface of a pig whose pouring side faces upward while the other projection interacts with the inclined side surface of a pig whose pouring side faces downward, and ensures the same distance between the axis of fastening of said pushers and the geometrical axes of the pigs, both non-turned and turned with their pouring side facing downwards.
 6. A pig-piling device according to claim 1 wherein the drum of said manipulator means has a through opening whose upper and lower sides are provided with skids located level with the skids of said first conveyor means for carrying a pig and allowing passage between them of the carriage of said first conveyor means, wherein arc-shaped baffles are located under said drum for keeping the pigs from falling therefrom under rotation thereof and wherein said drum is provided with a reversible drive for turning the drum through 180* around a longitudinal axis, said drive comprising a cylinder interacting with a rack and a gear wheel. 